Orlando Pirates v Kaizer Chiefs
DStv Premiership, 9 March, FNB Stadium, 15h30
On Saturday, FNB Stadium plays host to yet another Soweto Derby. The biggest match in the local football calendar is once again a meeting of two also-rans in the title race. Both teams can still finish in second place and bragging rights are up for grabs as always, but this feels like one of the more inconsequential derbies in recent times. On one side you have a Kaizer Chiefs side fast approaching a decade without a trophy and having scored just four goals in their last seven matches. On the other corner is an Orlando Pirates team with three trophies under their belts in the last 18 months. Yet, doubts remain over Jose Riveiro's credentials as a coach who can mount a title challenge, never mind actually lift the DStv Premiership title after the club's 12-year wait. There are plenty of sub-plots to discuss, but supporters may need to have a quiet prayer that we see some actual and entertainment in Nasrec come 15h30 on Saturday. Laduma previews the clash.
Who replaces Dove?
For any derby, a rock-solid defence gives you the best chance of victory. Considering we hardly ever see goal-fests in this fixture, even leaking one goal can be enough to condemn you to defeat. Kaizer Chiefs have a serious question mark in the heart of their backline for this match. At the start of the season, Given Msimango and Thatayaone Ditlhokwe formed a new pairing in central defence. The latter's serious shoulder injury keeps him out of this game. In addition, Edmilson Dove pulling back Gabadinho Mhango against Moroka Swallows last weekend saw the Mozambican sent off.
Considering that the PSL inflict a two-match ban for any and all red cards – despite other leagues like the English Premier League only dishing out a one-match suspension for denying a goalscoring opportunity – Dove will miss the derby having also sat out against Golden Arrows on Tuesday.
Cavin Johnson is not short of options to fill the void. The question is whether his pool of central defenders represent quality depth or if there is simply quantity in that department. Reeve Frosler started against Royal AM after the Afcon hiatus, but he didn't make the squad in either of the Milford FC or Dube Birds fixtures. His availability could see Zitha Kwinika move into a central role in preference to Njabulo Ngcobo coming into the XI. Dillan Solomons had a rare outing against his former club last Saturday after Dove's red card. Another option is Luke Fleurs, but he is yet to play a single minute in over four months at the Naturena-based club. Whoever gets the nod won't bring the left foot and ball-playing ability that Dove offers and that may mean there is greater joy for Orlando Pirates when they press high from Kaizer Chiefs' build-up schemes.
Stop Du Preez, stop Chiefs?
When you think of Ashley Du Preez, you don't picture ruthless finishing or goal-poaching. What you get with him is a whirlwind of pace, energy, chasing lost causes and counterattacks. With him on the field, so much of Amakhosi's game plan is geared towards bringing out the speed merchant's talents. Bucs will be starkly aware of his threat having seen the sprinter have several one-on-one chances against Siyabonga Mpontshane in a recent derby (all of which were missed).
If Pirates dominate possession and use their hyper fluid formation with positional interchanging, it could mean they are not in an ideal shape in 'rest defence' – basically how your players prepare for the ball being lost whilst their team is still in the possession phase. Du Preez is an absolute menace to opponents and will surely be moved to a central striker role again for this match having started as a right winger against Swallows. If Olisa Ndah and Tapelo Xoki can stuff out Du Preez's runs behind the defensive line, then you worry where Chiefs' goals will come from. They fired blanks against Royal AM, Milford FC and Swallows and only netted once in each of the four matches before that. Yes, Edson Castillo can score a header, Pule Mmodi or Christian Saile can cut inside to shoot or Sifiso Hlanti can pop up with a headed effort, but it really does feel like most of the job will be done if Ndah and Xoki leave Nasrec with Du Preez in their pockets.
The suspension tightrope
Going into Tuesday's match against Arrows, the Glamour Boys had three players who were at risk of a fourth yellow card and a ban for this showpiece. Castillo, Yusuf Maart and Mmodi were all sitting on three yellow cards.
While Castillo sat on the bench and did not play a part in the match, Maart and Mmodi featured from the start, and both did not get cautioned, meaning they are available for the big encounter on Saturday. This will be good news for Johnson.
For Pirates, their match on Wednesday against bottom-placed Cape Town Spurs kicks off after this edition of Soccer Laduma goes to print. The Sea Robbers had three players having to tread carefully in right back options Bandile Shandu and Thabiso Lebitso and veteran Bafana Bafana midfielder Thabang Monare. None of those three would be massive losses and Bucs will have a fully fresh and able Ndah, whose caution against Polokwane City sees him serve a ban against the Urban Warriors in midweek instead. The Nigerian will have a big point to prove after some nightmare moments in recent derby clashes.
Watching brief for Bafana bunch?
For the biggest game of the season, you'd usually expect the key men on the two sides to be regulars for Bafana Bafana. Instead, Monare – the third-choice central midfielder in Cote d'Ivoire at the Africa Cup of Nations – is unlikely to play many minutes. His brief seven-minute sighting against Polokwane City last Saturday was his first outing of any sort in the DStv Premiership since playing 90 minutes in the last Soweto Derby back on the 11th of November.
For Nkosinathi Sibisi, who was chosen ahead of Xoki for the 23-man Afcon squad, it could be more time getting splinters on the bench. Since starting against Mamelodi Sundowns back in September last year, Pirates have played 13 league matches with the former Arrows man only selected to start two of those encounters. He may be a favourite of Hugo Broos, but Jose Riveiro has lost a bit of faith in the pacey but relatively short central defender who didn't even get a game against Crystal Lake FC in the Nedbank Cup! We may get a rare sighting of him against Spurs with Ndah suspended on Wednesday, but he is likely to go straight back to being a spectator at FNB Stadium. Then we have Zakhele Lepasa. The 26-year-old came on as a substitute in every game for Bafana, but having raced to 10 goals this season, he hasn't scored in six months now for the side. He hasn't started any of the last 13 league games, with a paltry 127 minutes played in that time.
On Chiefs' side, no Glamour Boys made the final Afcon squad, but Sibongiseni Mthethwa made the standby list. He has been benched in three recent DStv Premiership matches against Richards Bay FC, Royal AM and Moroka Swallows and considering the large transfer fee spent to acquire him, it would be damning if he wasn't selected for the derby… the exact sort of match you'd think Chiefs had in mind when they recruited the defensive midfielder!
The one exception is Evidence Makgopa, who started for Pirates against the Brazilians just four days after landing back in the country. He had started seven games in under four weeks in Ivory Coast with 590 minutes played. The lack of rest and immediate return should give you an indication of how much of a vital player he is in Riveiro's plans!
Scrutinising the key battles…
As in any Derby or big match, the result can be determined by how many players win their direct battles with their opponent. For most of the derbies, we have a good idea of what the starting XIs will be. This clash is a bit more unpredictable and a shrewd selection from either coach could surprise their opponents.
Engine room v engine room
Considering we really can't predict the starting XI of either Chiefs or especially Pirates, we can simply churn out the accurate old adage: games are decided in the engine room. For the visitors, you'd imagine that Castillo and Maart are certain starters. The latter has scored a famous winner in this fixture and also lost his cool in the last derby match. Castillo has not been scoring as often of late, but we're still seeing him arrive in the box. The identity of the third midfielder is where the doubt comes in. Will Johnson play it safe and add some muscle and aggression in the shape of "Ox" Mthethwa? Will Nkosingiphile Ngcobo be handed a recall after some quiet outings and being dropped against Swallows? Or will Amakhosi's highest earner in Keagan Dolly be asked to earn his wages by dictating affairs from the number 10 role?
For Pirates, Miguel Timm has been excellent this season prior to his red card against Downs. We know Monare is now a fringe player, whilst Ndabayithethwa Ndlondlo was nowhere to be seen against Polokwane City having regularly partnered Timm in the weeks leading up to the mid- season break. Then we have Makhehlene Makhaula, who has suddenly started three successive matches having only tasted four brief substitute outings this term before that! We also have Thalente Mbatha, who was only given 197 minutes by Gavin Hunt at SuperSport United up until January (including in a wide right role) but has since played two full games for Pirates in a deeper role, benefitting from Timm's suspension. Against Polokwane, he had 68 touches, made a game-high 13 passes into the final third, won three tackles and set up two chances. His passing range is impressive and it might be worth handing him a chance to earn a permanent move as he is currently only on loan from Matsatsantsa!
Alongside two of Timm, Makhaula, Mbatha and Ndlondlo will be a number 10, probably Karim Kimvuidi. Patrick Maswanganyi will also play narrow and occupy the right half-space, so Chiefs could be overrun at times. Maybe it's the sensible thing to play Mthethwa as an extra destroyer in this one!
Makgopa v Msimango
With the uncertainty for the Naturena-based side at the back, Given Msimango is going to need to channel all of his leadership qualities for this derby. If Kwinika moves inside and either Solomons or Frosler play at right back, it will mean two changes to the back four, one either side of the former TS Galaxy captain. For all his elegance and ball-playing ability, Msimango will find himself up against an all-round threat in Makgopa.
The former Baroka FC striker had to wait 15 months to finally get a start for the Buccaneers back in October. Riveiro praised the lanky forward's professionalism and predicted back then that a run of starts would lead to an increased level. The Spaniard said, "Due to his conditions and his age, he's a player that can only improve. He will only improve in the next months. Obviously if he manages to play frequently, his improvement is going to be more evident for everybody." Makgopa may only have scored once at the Afcon, but he won a penalty against Mali and assisted a goal against Namibia. On his full debut against Spurs, he teed up Kermit Erasmus to score and also won a penalty. He is currently on a run of 16 successive starts with five goals scored in that run.
Hotto v Saile
The left back position for Pirates is an interesting area. Deon Hotto initially began playing there almost permanently at the start of this campaign. Innocent Maela has been struggling with injuries and Paseka Mako went down with a long-term problem not long after he had received a Bafana Bafana call-up. After excelling as an inverted right winger for Namibia at the Africa Cup of Nations, Hotto played further forward against Sundowns last month. He has since reverted to the fullback role, albeit with an incredible amount of attacking licence. At times against Polokwane City, we saw him getting into the box. When Makgopa lashed a chance wide before the hour mark, it was Hotto in the centre-forward position.
For Chiefs, they are going to have to come up with a game plan to deal with the positions that Hotto takes up. Inversely, they will surely spend a couple of sessions this week on how to counter-attack into the right channel which Hotto is so eager to vacate! We don't know yet who will play down their right, but it surely won't be Du Preez tasked with that role. It would be a waste of his talents to have him tracking back instead of being the number nine for this derby. Saile may be recalled on that right wing and will have to show great energy to get back against Hotto and then immediately travel 50 yards to launch counterattacks. It's the age-old cat and mouse battle on that flank.
Bucs have a Plan B the better bench!
If we look deeply at the two squads, few would argue against Pirates having more depth and better options in attack. Whilst Chiefs struggle to find a number nine to score goals, their rivals have Makgopa on five goals, Lepasa on 10 goals and now have arguably the PSL's best natural finisher available again in Tshegofatso Mabasa. He was thrown on alongside Makgopa against Polokwane City and the side immediately scored. Should they be trailing in this match, Riveiro now has a nice Plan B to turn to.
Aside from that, there are creative players like Lesedi Kapinga, Monnapule Saleng, Vincent Pule and even Erasmus to call upon, whilst Katlego Otladisa can make something happen. For Amakhosi, Tebogo Potsane is out of favour and carrying a knock, Jasond Gonzalez hasn't featured since the mid-season break and there has been a slight drop in Mduduzi Shabalala's effectiveness since Johnson started using him wide. Basically, the team can barely decide a coherent front four to start matches, never mind having good impact subs to turn a result. In this area, there is no doubt Pirates have more aces up their sleeve.
Let the kids play!
Considering that this isn't one of the more consequential derbies of recent times, wouldn't it be great to see the two coaches give their trust to some younger players? Pirates didn't use Relebohile Mofokeng against Sundowns at all, so let's hope Riveiro gives him a start down the left wing in the derby. We've spoken about Mbatha potentially starting the match, whilst the Glamour Boys have a number of younger legs to consider.
Wandile Duba came on in the 56th minute against Swallows having not really been involved this season. It would be a good opportunity to at least give him a long runout from the bench in this clash, having scored the winner against Arrows in midweek, which should be a great confidence booster for the youngster heading to the derby. Mfundo Vilakazi is making quite the name for himself in the DStv Diski Challenge and was impressive for the Carling Black Label Cup All Stars XI against Stellenbosch FC. Starting him against Pirates may be a bit premature, but some minutes in the second half would be something for the fans to enjoy. Even at left back, Happy Mashiane may be far from a youngster now, but he is eight years younger than Hlanti. The lanky left back was suspended against Milford FC and didn't get recalled against his former club Swallows last Saturday. Johnson could play it safe with the veteran in his XI or go with Mashiane instead. He could also throw Fleurs in the deep-end, give Samkelo Zwane some minutes or play Shabalala instead of Dolly!
Bucs aiming to end 15-year wait!
Cavin audition
Amakhosi don't really have excuses going into this game. They get an extra day of rest compared to Pirates because they play on Tuesday. Only the two absentees in defence are really affecting them and Bucs lost one of their most consistent derby performers in Thembinkosi Lorch in the January transfer window. Johnson is basically undergoing an audition in this game to decide whether he will be cast in the role of head coach next season. Supporting Chiefs is a bit like a Hollywood movie at times, so this metaphor works well. Anything besides a win for him and the supporters won't be giving their backing to the former Platinum Stars mentor for the gig in the long-term.
Mistakes cost games
If we look at recent clashes between these sides, it is so often a defensive howler which settles the result. We've seen Ndah foul Khama Billiat for a late penalty, we've seen a loose Thulani Hlatshwayo back-pass lead to a goal, we've seen Ndah score an own goal over his own goalkeeper's head, we've seen Maela red-carded for cutting down Saile and we've enjoyed Maart scoring from 55 yards over the head of Mpontshane. Most of the mistakes in this derby over the last few years have been committed by Pirates players. If they can just keep things safe and secure, and not beat themselves, they can make history…
Double trouble
There is the small matter of Bucs potentially doing the league double over Chiefs. We know they've won the last two derbies in the Nedbank Cup and in the league, having been beaten five times in a row by Amakhosi before that. But, you have to go back all the way to the 2008/09 season to find the last time that Pirates won two league fixtures against their Soweto rivals in the same season. Ruud Krol was the coach back then, and this rare honour should prove a major motivator for both Riveiro and the Sea Robbers' squad!
